Wind farm shire's call

Warrnambool Standard
Saturday 17/2/2007 Page: 15

A DECISION on a $63 million wind farm three kilometres north of Purnim might be made before the same company hears from the State Government about plans for a 25-turbine farm in Woolsthorpe. Wind Farm Developments is planning to construct a 13 to 15-turbine farm across 800 hectares of cleared land west of Ballangeich.

The company's development manager Jonathan Upson yesterday said the plans for the Drysdale Wind Farm, named after the creek on the project's eastern boundary, would produce electricity for up to 17,000 households each year.

Power generated would be transferred into a 66,000-volt line which runs between the Koroit substation and the Terang terminal station.

Tower locations and pictures of the 90-metre towers on the landscape will be displayed at the Purnim Hall next month at a date to be announced. Mr Upson said the western side of the project had rises of up to 40 metres over a creek, which captured the southerly ocean breezes.

The company is also planning a wind farm for Woolsthorpe and expected plans for that project to go on display within weeks.

Mr Upton said Moyne Shire was the planning authority to consider the Drysdale project because it fell under the 30-megawatt capacity that required the planning minister's consent. He said it was possible the council would determine the future of the Drysdale farm before the planning minister made an announcement on the Woolsthorpe farm.

The company hopes work on the Woolsthorpe farm will begin in 2008.